An East Asian Summer Monsoon Index Defined by Atmospheric Heating Source

Using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and 160 stations rainfall data in China from 1965-2007,a East Asian summer monsoon index is defined by atmospheric heating source of the total atmosphere based on the discussion about climate characteristics of atmospheric heating source,and discusses the relationship between East Asian summer monsoon and China climate with the index.Results show that the summer monsoon index defined by atmospheric heating source can be used to describe the intensity of the summer monsoon.High(low) index is related to strong(weak) East Asian summer monsoon.And the new index is well related to the summer rainfall over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.